The Bishop of Durham congratulated nearly 100 higher education students for their success at Bishop Auckland College’s showcase graduation ceremony at Durham Cathedral last week. The Right Revd Paul Butler led praise for the graduates who have received their scrolls after years of study in subjects ranging from engineering and business to teaching, counselling, sport, healthcare, music and performing arts.
For many of the graduates this year, their higher education journey has proved to be a life-changing experience.
Claire Lowes is one such example, having gone from employee to employer. The 42-year-old, from Bishop Auckland, enrolled on the two year Higher National Diploma in Business and Management after her director highlighted professional development during an annual appraisal at work.
But the Level 5 programme gave her so much confidence that in March this year she decided to leave her role as an operations manager for a door set manufacturer in Thornaby to jointly launch her own company.
Christopher Bennett, 33, went back to the classroom after 15 years when professional development was also identified as a priority by his employer Thorn Lighting. And the HNC in Manufacturing Engineering has played a key role in his subsequent promotion from line leader to production supervisor. The father-of-one, from Newton Aycliffe, said: “Since I started the HNC I have taken on a new role, and the course has certainly helped me get the promotion. When I applied for the job I had to do a 30-minute presentation, largely on manufacturing principles and business improvement techniques. So what I had learned helped a lot. Next year I plan to do my HND.”
Addressing last night’s ceremony, Principal and Chief Executive of Bishop Auckland College Natalie Davison-Terranova praised HE staff for their dedication and told the graduates: “I cannot emphasise enough how you must all feel very proud of your achievements; you must revel in the knowledge that you have already achieved immense success and that you will, undoubtedly, go on to achieve much more in the future.
“Along with the Governors and staff of Bishop Auckland College, I would like to offer my warmest congratulations to each and every one of you and my very best wishes for your future success.”
The college had well over 200 HE students this year enrolled on a wide range of subjects including HNC/Ds in engineering, HNDs in art & design, business, music, performing arts and sport, and Higher Apprenticeships in business and management. It also runs Foundation Degrees in education, health and counselling and the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (Cert. Ed.) validated by the University of Sunderland.
Applications are being taken now for HE courses starting in September. Visit bacoll.ac.uk
